Keraia
Deuteronomy 32

Deuteronomy 32:21

The Song of Moses · Deuteronomy 32:1–47
Read Deuteronomy 32

Translations

Modern
They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God; they have enraged Me with their worthless idols. So I will make them jealous by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation without understanding.
Traditional
They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
Literal
They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; they have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols. And I will provoke them to jealousy by those not a people; by a foolish nation I will anger them.
Latin
Ipsi me provocaverunt in eo qui non erat Deus, et irritaverunt in vanitatibus suis: et ego provocabo eos in eo qui non est populus, et in gente stulta irritabo illos.

Original

Hebrew
English
They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God; they have enraged Me with their worthless idols. So I will make them jealous by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation without understanding.

Notes

Deuteronomy 32:21

  • provoked My jealousy: The Lord was not upset because people paid attention to false gods. Israel had broken their covenant by worshiping other gods. This showed their disrespect for God and his authority (see 32:16).

  • those who are not a people: God’s plan for Israel was not only to save them, but also to save all nations through them. Israel often saw other nations as worthless. By showing care for other nations, God would lead Israel back to obedience (see Hosea 1:9; 2:23; Romans 9:25; 10:19).

Deuteronomy 31:30–32:47

In ancient times, vows from both parties secured a treaty between individuals or nations. Israel's promise was in a song of witness that Moses composed under divine inspiration (31:19–22).

Israel probably sang the song during a regular covenant-renewal ceremony (31:21). They invoked upon themselves the covenant's judgments and reminded themselves of its promises.

Parallels

Revelation 15:1–4

Glossary

Deuteronomy, Book of Song of Moses

Topics

Anger: Anger of God Backsliders: General Scriptures Concerning Church: Prophecies Concerning Prosperity of Death: Scenes of Death of Moses Gentiles: Prophecies of the Conversion of God: Jealous Idolatry: Denunciations Against Instruction in Religion Jealousy: Attributed to God Jesus, the Christ: Prophecies Concerning Universality of the Kingdom of Judgments: Denounced Against Disobedience Psalms: Didactic Songs Composed by Moses, Celebrating the Providence, Righteousness